Ranking Every Pierce Brosnan Bond Film: Which One Truly Shines?

by

It’s relatively simple for fans of the James Bond franchise to reach a consensus when ranking Pierce Brosnan‘s adventures, but it becomes more challenging with the tenures of Roger Moore and Sean Connery. While films like From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball are universally regarded as high points during Connery’s era, opinions are divided on films such as Dr. No, You Only Live Twice, and Diamonds are Forever. In the case of Roger Moore, The Spy Who Loved Me is generally well-liked, but many other films, particularly those with silly opening sequences like For Your Eyes Only, receive mixed reviews.

When it comes to Brosnan as Bond, it’s undeniable that one movie stands out as the best in the series. There’s another film that doesn’t quite reach the heights of the top-ranked movies, and then there are two films that usually rank lower. Let’s begin with those lower-rated ones.

4) Die Another Day

In a modern context, the special effects in the film “Die Another Day” appear dated almost immediately upon viewing, as they seemed unrealistic even back in 2002. Today, they might pull you out of the movie faster than Madonna’s extended appearance. If there’s an argument for Pierce Brosnan to reprise his role as Bond with Amazon owning the rights now, it could be that “Die Another Day” is so bad that it feels almost disrespectful to him and his portrayal of the character for it to remain his last outing as 007.

Despite some criticisms, it shouldn’t be dismissed that the film “Die Another Day” has its own values. Halle Berry’s captivating introduction scene as a Bond girl left an indelible mark, boosting her fame significantly. Similarly, Rosamund Pike’s performance as Miranda Frost played a crucial role in enhancing her career profile. However, it’s unfortunate that her compelling portrayal of the villain was overshadowed by Toby Stephens’ over-the-top character, Gustav Graves. To top it off, the film features an ice castle sequence and a space laser, making it challenging to maintain a serious tone.

3) The World Is Not Enough

In a revised and more conversational manner: Some aspects of the movie “The World Is Not Enough” come close to being effective. Robert Carlyle, who delivered a remarkable performance, was perfectly suited for the role of a Bond villain. His character, Renard, possesses an intriguing detail – a ticking clock that symbolizes a bullet getting closer and closer to his brain. However, despite Carlyle’s talent, Renard is given limited screen time, and his development is insufficient. Instead, the main focus of the villainy falls on Sophie Marceau’s character, Elektra King.

Regarding Marceau, another skilled artist, that’s acceptable. However, the character of King is confusing. The plot twist about her father’s death was meant to be a surprise, but it’s apparent from her initial appearance due to the script. This film also marks a shift in Brosnan’s 007 performances, where the action sequences transform from elaborate and grandiose to simply absurd. Yet, the main issue with The World Is Not Enough isn’t this change. Instead, it’s Denise Richards portraying a nuclear physicist that causes trouble. It’s challenging to blame Richards for this predicament as her role was bound to exceed her capabilities. However, there seems to have been an error in judgment somewhere because her character never appears convincing, and she’s on-screen quite frequently.

2) Tomorrow Never Dies

Tomorrow Never Dies should receive this recognition: The movie features an amazing James Bond car – a BMW 750iL. It’s stylish and loaded with cool gadgets, just like the film itself. However, beyond that, it doesn’t offer much else of substance.

While Tomorrow Never Dies showcases some of Pierce Brosnan’s best action scenes during his Bond tenure, it lacks depth in its themes compared to other films. Despite this, it significantly outshines the movies that came after it. The film captivates the audience from the start with an explosive opening scene where Bond interferes with an arms deal, maintaining their interest right up until the end credits. However, unlike GoldenEye, which kept viewers engaged through intriguing characters as well as action, Tomorrow Never Dies primarily holds attention through high-octane sequences like the garage car chase leading to a motorcycle and helicopter pursuit, culminating in the final confrontation on villain Elliot Carver’s ship.

1) GoldenEye

Besides being Bond’s finest outing according to many, GoldenEye stands tall among the greatest Bond movies ever made. With a rhythm that is perfectly pitched and action sequences that are both unique and thrilling, it’s an unforgettable experience. For ’90s kids, it’s on par with classics like Mars Attacks!, Jurassic Park, Tremors, Space Jam, and Jumanji as one of the defining films from that era in terms of genre.

Martin Campbell’s direction might just be the most crucial in Bond film history, surpassing directors like John Glen, Guy Hamilton, Lewis Gilbert, and Terrence Young. Rebooting a franchise years after it has ended an era with a new actor and a fresh style is no small feat, and Campbell managed this not once but twice, including ‘Casino Royale’. However, his tight direction isn’t the only strength of ‘GoldenEye’, as it benefits from a Bond portrayal that perfectly suits Pierce Brosnan, a compelling Bond girl in Izabella Scorupco’s Natalya Simonova, and an impressive quartet of villains. Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), the memorable Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen), General Arkady Grigorovich Ourumov (Gottfried John), and Boris Grishenko (Alan Cumming, who steals the scenes) make up this quartet of fantastic adversaries.

As a cinephile, I’d recommend grabbing your own copies of the thrilling adventures that are “GoldenEye”, “Tomorrow Never Dies”, “The World is Not Enough”, and “Die Another Day” on Amazon Video. Enjoy these classic Bond films at your leisure!

Read More

2025-04-01 18:46